xxii, 325 pages : 25 cm

"Frauds, myths, and supposed mysteries about humanity's past are moving targets for anyone committed to the scientific investigation of human antiquity. It is important for anyone interested in the human past to know, for example, that there is no evidence for a race of giant human beings in antiquity and no broken shards of laser guns under Egyptian pyramids. Debunking such nonsense is fun and useful in its own way, but more important is the process by which we determine that such claims are bunk. This uses interesting--and often humorous--archaeological hoaxes, myths, and mysteries to show how we can truly know things about the past through science."--Provided by publisher

Includes bibliographical references (pages 293-308) and index

Science and pseudoscience -- Epistemology: how you know what you know -- Giants! Anatomy of an archaeological hoax -- Dawson's Dawn Man: The hoax at Piltdown -- Who discovered America? -- Who's next? After the Indians, before Columbus -- The myth of the Moundbuilders -- Lost: One content-reward -- Prehistoric E.T.: The fantasy of ancient astronauts -- The mystery of ancient civilizations: how did people get so smart? -- Good vibrations: psychics and archaeology -- Old-time religion, New Age visions, and paranormal predictions -- Epilogue: A past we deserve

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